On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, a conference was held in Chengdu, China from June 14 - 16, 2013. The Chengdu International Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held under the patronage of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the Sichuan Provincial People’ s Government, China National Committee for UNESCO and UNESCO.

Present at the conference were representatives from States Parties of the Convention, major experts and scholars who participated in initiating and drafting the Convention, UNESCO’s high-level officials who contributed to the promotion and implementation of the Convention, Chinese experts and scholars and Chinese officials in charge of the protection of intangible cultural heritage.

Centered on “The Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention: Its First Decade,” the Conference featured five topics: achievements of the Convention: changing the discourse of ICH and implementing new concepts; inventory and listing; parallel universes: intellectual property, world heritage and cultural goods and services; safeguarding experience in the States Parties; open questions and future directions. Representatives reached an agreement that the conference will make a great contribution in raising international societies’ awareness about the implications and values of the Convention through the discussions on the challenges all nations encounter in protecting intangible cultural heritage. One outcome of the conference was Chengdu Prospect.

To protect intangible cultural heritage under threat, UNESCO has designed and approved the Convention which has rooted the concept of intangible cultural heritage in people’s minds. During the 10 years after the approval of the Convention, UNESCO launched a series of international cooperation under the framework of the Convention and the protection of ICH has captured global attention and focus. States Parties reinforce their abilities of protecting ICH by developing domestic ICH programs and taking a positive part in international exchanges and cooperation. In this light, the career of protecting ICH has achieved national and international progress. Yet questions arise concerning how to promote this career to develop along a sound track? What are the problems that all nations encounter in progress? The 10th anniversary is an ideal time to look back in retrospect, wrap up and look forward while addressing these problems.

In 2004, China ratified the convention, becoming one of the States Parties. The Chinese government that highly values the protection of ICH has taken measures that echo the spirituality and principles of the Convention and achieved great results. More importantly, China has strengthened exchanges with other countries by participating in international cooperation hosted by UNESCO. Through its practical actions, China has expressed its willingness to play a part in protecting ICH.

In recent years, Sichuan province and Chengdu have positively participated in all activities held by UNESCO. Through close ties with UNESCO, especially the secretariat of the Convention, Chengdu in Sichuan province has hosted three consecutive “Chengdu Intangible Cultural Heritage Festivals” and international forums. This conference held in Chengdu showcases Chengdu’s view and mind in protecting intangible cultural heritage.

It is reported that 17 countries and regions have held or will hold over 60 celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the Convention. However, the Chengdu International Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage is the only international forum that has global coverage and features “Its First Decade.” In addition, it is the convention that UNESCO has been deeply involved in.